The Yushin Maru No. 3 Backs Down from the Bob Barker 

(L to R) The Bob Barker stays close to the Nisshin Maru while the Yushin Maru No. 3 keeps her distance
(photo: Simon Ager)As the Steve Irwin advances southward towards the Japanese whaling fleet, the Sea Shepherd ships Bob Barker and Gojira are keeping the whalers from killing whales.

Today, the Yushin Maru No. 3 made a move to test the resolve of Captain of the Bob Barker Alex Cornelissen. The harpoon vessel moved in quickly as if making a motion to transfer a dead whale, although they did not have one but used the same movements as if they did.

The Bob Barker did not back down and held its position. If the Japanese vessel had continued its movement, there would have been a collision. The Yushin Maru No. 3 backed down and retreated, leaving the Bob Barker solidly blocking the stern slipway of the Nisshin Maru.

The Nisshin Maru has been unable to shake off the Bob Barker in the ice packs. The Gojira flanks the fleet keeping on the outside of the ice packs and speeding up to meet the whalers when they emerge from the ice.

There is no possible way for the Japanese whalers to load whales without causing a collision with the Bob Barker, and Captain Cornelissen has no intention of backing off to allow them to do so.

The whaling fleet is running at 14 knots, on a course of 045 at the position of 74 degrees 34 minutes south and 149 degrees 9 minutes west. This is on the southeast side of the Ross Sea some 2500 miles from New Zealand.

The New Zealand naval vessel the Wellington is rumored to be heading for the Ross Sea. Both it mission and destination is unknown.

The Bob Barker on the heels of the Nisshin Maru (photo: Simon Ager)

The Bob Barker blocking the factory ship‚s slipway (photo: Simon Ager)

Operation  No Compromise